Finding Information and Getting Help

Consider multiple sources of information. The following is a compilation of where you may want to seek information on an unknown topic.

Talk to a professional. The professional may be a psychologist, a doctor, a dentist, a lawyer, etc. Even if the professional does not know the answer themselves, they are much more likely to point you in the right direction.

Search on the internet. There are tons of information on the internet to help you. Be innovative in how you search, and you will find tons of treasures. Different sites may also give different perspectives, so read widely and well. Be discriminatory, however, in what you read. Do not always believe what you read. Evaluate yourself whether the source and information is trustworthy.  For more information on honing your internet search engine skills, read How to Use Search Engines to Find Information on the Internet.

Call a crisis line. No matter what your situation, feel free to call the crisis line. Even if it is not a crisis, the person may be able to help you.

Search at the library. The library is a wealth of information. Do not forget that up to the thousands of years before the advent of the internet in the 1990s, all the information in the world was in the form of written material, much of which is stored in libraries. Go to different libraries to take a look.  Feel free to ask the librarian for assistance because that's why they're there.

Ask a friend, family member, or acquaintance. Ask someone whom you think may have the answer to your question. Feel to to ask even if you think they might not have the answer. Sometimes others are more knowledgeable than you think. You could probably even call up a company who has expertise in that area, and they would probably be more than glad to assist you. The government also often has established different agencies to deal with different areas of life, so call the government if you want to.

Figure it out yourself. Try to see if you can come up with the answer yourself. Reason it out. Use basic, first principles. Calculate it out. However, do not do anything dangerous. If in doubt, ask someone else.

Of course, for some questions, no one on the entire planet knows the question. Consider funding some scientific research so that the answer to that question 
may some day be elucidated.

In summary, to get help and find information,

A. Talk to a professional.

B. Search on the internet.

C. Call a crisis line.

D. Search at the library.

E. Ask a friend, family member, or acquaintance.

F. Figure it out yourself.

Life Skills > Common Sense Life Skills > Finding Information and Getting Help